‘Taking Flight,’ a short story by Dr Una McCormack, which appears in the 2016 anthology Conflicts and Crises, edited by Ian Whates and published by NewCon Press, is her first shortlisting for this prestigious award.
Dr McCormack says, “I’m delighted to be shortlisted for a BSFA award for short fiction – a form which I find particularly challenging to write! I’m very grateful to editor Ian Whates for publishing this short story, and glad to see NewCon Press doing so well in the BSFA shortlistings this year.”
NewCon Press was established in 2006 by writer and editor Ian Whates, and specializes in science fiction, fantasy, dark horror and horror. Other shortlisted authors and artists from NewCon this year include Nick Wood (Best Novel), Jaine Fenn (Best Short Fiction), and Juan Miguel Aguilera, Chris Moore, and David A Hardy (Best Artwork).
Dr McCormack goes on, “Short fiction has been a significant part of science fiction since the 1930s, and continues to thrive, offering a place where new voices and ideas can be heard. Independent small presses such as NewCon play a vital part in keeping this tradition of openness and experimentation alive.”
The British Science Fiction Association was established in 1958 as an open membership organization to promote science fiction in all its forms. Their annual awards are given each year to the best Novel, Short Fiction, Artwork and work of Non-Fiction, as voted for by the members of the association. The winners are announced at ‘Eastercon’, the annual British science fiction convention, to be held this year in Birmingham over Easter weekend, 14th-17th April 2017.
